(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), every real estate licensee who negotiates a loan secured by a trust deed on real property shall cause the trust deed to be recorded, naming as beneficiary the lender or his or her nominee (who shall not be the licensee or the licensee’s nominee), with the county recorder of the county in which the real property is located prior to the time that any funds are disbursed, except when the lender has given written authorization for prior release.

(b) If funds are released on the lender’s written authorization as described in subdivision (a), the trust deed shall be recorded, or delivered to the lender or beneficiary with a written recommendation that it be recorded forthwith, within 10 days following release.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 10234

  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • County: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 17
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Licensee: means any person authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.8
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Real property sales contract: as used in this part is an agreement wherein one party agrees to convey title to real property to another party upon the satisfaction of specified conditions set forth in the contract and which does not require conveyance of title within one year from the date of formation of the contract. See California Business and Professions Code 10029
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(c) Every real estate licensee who sells, exchanges, or negotiates the sale or exchange of a real property sales contract or a promissory note secured by a trust deed on real property shall cause a proper assignment of the real property sales contract or trust deed to be executed and shall cause the assignment to be recorded, naming as assignee the purchaser or his or her nominee (who shall not be the licensee or the licensee’s nominee), with the county recorder of the county in which the real property is located within 10 working days after the licensee or seller receives any funds from the buyer or after close of escrow; or shall deliver the real property sales contract or trust deed to the purchaser with a written recommendation that the assignment thereof be recorded forthwith.

(d) A trust deed may be recorded in the name of the real estate broker negotiating the loan if all of the following apply: (1) the lender or purchaser is any person or entity set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 10232, (2) the trust deed is recorded with the county recorder of the county in which the real property is located, and (3) the real property securing the loan as described in the trust deed is not a dwelling as defined in Section 10240.2 or unimproved real property.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 26, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)